EPA Victoria has written to the head offices of the three major fast food outlets and their franchise holders following a spate of pollution reports involving their Melbourne outlets.
McDonalds, Hungry Jacks and KFC will all receive fines and improvement notices after staff allowed cooking oil and waste liquids to escape to storm drains. At the KFC, a staff member was photographed with a container with the open tap spilling the contents out the shop back door and into the drain.
KFC in Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds was fined $5,769 with a further fine of $1,920 for littering, Hungry Jacks in Bell St, Preston has been fined $3,846 and a McDonalds in Plenty Rd Kingsbury was fined $3,846 in March this year.
All were found to have been allowing waste oil to escape down the stormwater drain. Waste oils should go to collection tanks for proper disposal.
"Everyone has a duty to protect the environment. Oil and cooking wastes do not belong in our drain networks. Major fast food franchises should have controls in place and their staff should be trained to understand how to manage their waste," said EPA West Metropolitan Regional Manager Steve Lansdell.
"We have contacted their Australian offices and the franchise holders' offices to reinforce the role they play in ensuring their employees are protecting the environment.
"We'll also raise the issue of litter management as well with too many reports of wrappers and drink containers not being properly disposed of and contained at the site. They have a responsibility to manage the environmental issues created by the sale of their product and that includes its packaging."
KFC Moonee Ponds
EPA officers became aware of issues involving the release of cooking oils and cleaning chemicals directly to stormwater drains. There were also issues with litter containment and management practices leading to a fine of $5,769 for discharging waste cleaning chemicals and $1,920 for littering offences.
Hungry Jacks Preston
The outlet in Bell Street, Preston did not manage its waste liquids including cooking oil which was released to the stormwater drains. An Improvement Notice and a fine of $3,846 has been served on the operator who must ensure the practice is not repeated or they face possible further financial penalties.
McDonalds Kingsbury
EPA Victoria has fined the Kingsbury McDonalds in Plenty Road $3,846 after their staff were found allowing waste oil to escape to the stormwater drain rather than putting it into the collection tank as should have happened.
